Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Trading Down 0.3% Following Insider Selling

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Trading Down 0.3% Following Insider Selling

  • 21.03.2025 05:05
  • etfdailynews.com
  • Keywords: No companies mentioned

Meta Platforms (META) stock fell 0.3% as insiders sold shares, including COO selling 608 shares. Analysts raised target prices, reflecting optimism despite recent trading declines.

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Context

Analysis of Meta Platforms (META) Trading Insights and Market Implications

Stock Performance

  • Market Cap: $1.48 trillion
  • PE Ratio: 24.50
  • PEG Ratio: 1.42
  • Beta: 1.23
  • Fifty-Day SMA: $655.77
  • Two Hundred-Day SMA: $604.56

Insider Selling

  • COO Transaction:

    • Sold: 608 shares
    • Price per Share: $607.50
    • Total Proceeds: $369,360
    • Ownership Post-Sale: 7,446 shares (valued at $4.52M)
    • Decrease in Ownership: 7.55%

  • Additional Insider Transaction:

    • Sold: 921 shares
    • Price per Share: $595.00
    • Total Proceeds: $547,995
    • Ownership Post-Sale: 33,024 shares (valued at $19.65M)
    • Decrease in Ownership: 2.71%

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

  • Analyst Consensus:

    • Rating: "Moderate Buy"
    • Average Target Price: $718.31

  • Recent Upgrades:

    • Jefferies: Raised target to $715 (from $675)
    • DA Davidson: Raised target to $800 (from $700)
    • Robert W. Baird: Raised target to $750 (from $680)
    • Citigroup: Raised target to $780 (from $753)

Earnings and Financial Metrics

  • Q4 Earnings:

    • EPS: $8.02 (vs. estimate of $6.75)
    • ROE: 38.17%
    • Net Margin: 37.91%

  • Analyst Expectations:

    • FY 2024 EPS Estimate: $26.7

Dividend Increase

  • New Dividend:
    • Quarterly Dividend: $0.525 (annualized $2.10)
    • Yield: 0.36%
    • Payout Ratio: 8.78%
    • Record Date: March 14, 2024
    • Ex-Dividend Date: March 14, 2024

Institutional Ownership

  • Top Investors:

    • Vanguard Group: Increased stake by 0.8%, total holdings worth $111.9B
    • Geode Capital Management: Increased stake by 2.1%, total holdings worth $28.7B
    • Price T Rowe Associates: Increased stake by 2.5%, total holdings worth $24.8B
    • Capital World Investors: Increased stake by 2.9%, total holdings worth $23.6B
    • Norges Bank: New investment of $19.9B

  • Total Institutional Ownership: 79.91%

Company Overview

  • Segments:
    • Family of Apps: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp
    • Reality Labs: Focus on VR and AR technologies

This analysis highlights META's strong financial performance, positive analyst sentiment, and strategic moves such as dividend increases and institutional investor support. However, insider selling raises questions about near-term stock momentum.